Tournament proves challenging for some anglers

April 12, 2012

By

Billy Latham, President Pushmataha County Sportsman Club

On Saturday, April 7, thirty members of the Pushmataha County Sportsman Club competed in bass tournament held on Sardis Lake. It was either feast or famine for most the anglers. Those that were able to locate some bass were able to put together nice stringers while others had difficulty in finding a single keeper.

The heaviest stringer was checked in by Kelly Gravitt. Kelly had a six fish limit that weighed an impressive 26.99 pounds. Kelly also had the big bass of the tournament with a fish weighing 6.32 pounds. Joe Russell finished in second place with a stringer weight of 14.15 pounds. Kenny Briggs finished out the top three spots with a stringer weight of 10.41 pounds.

The clubâ€™s next event will be the 41st Annual Big Bass Rodeo. The Big Bass Rodeo is the oldest, continuous running big bass tournament in the state. It will be held on Pine Creek Lake on April 21-22. Headquarters for the tournament will be at the pavilion on Rock Creek point in Little River South Park. Contestants will receive a free cap, compliments of Pruettâ€™s Foods and Ameristate Bank. There will be cash prizes, with a guaranteed $500.00 first place prize, as well as other prizes donated by area merchants. The top five finishers will also be awarded trophies, compliments of FirstBank in Antlers.

The entry fee for the tournament is $25.00 and may be paid on Friday evening before the tournament from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. or on Saturday morning before the start of the tournament. You must be a member of the Pushmataha County Sportsman Club to enter. Memberships are $15.00 per year or a temporary membership, good for one tournament, is $5.00 and will be available at the tournament site. Fishing times will be from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday.